Miguel Castro | Percussionist

Miguel studied music from 1977 to 1981 at the "Conservatorio Nacional de Musica" in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. After that, he went to New York for his Masters Degree - which he received in 1986.

During the entire time of his education he has been very active with live performance. He has played in various orchestras (Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional, Swiss Philharmonic Orchestra, Carol Morgan Operatic Society, Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfonica de Maracaibo), as well as various jazz groups and Latin American music groups. Miguel also performed at several radio and TV stations in Santo Domingo. By 1978 he had been teaching at various schools - amongst them, the Conservatorio Nacional de Musica where he himself had studied earlier.

In 1991, Miguel moved to Germany where he played in numerous Latin American groups and in jazz, pop and acoustic bands. He did tours throughout Europe with various groups, amongst them the Puerto Rican Salsa star Marvin Santiago.

In 1992, he returned to the U.S. where he has since continued as an active performer as well as a teacher of Latin music. At present, he is the Director of Percussion Studies at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia and the Artistic Director of the "Saoco Percussion Ensemble". Miguel is also in demand as a percussion clinician and recording artist, and maintains a busy schedule in and outside of the U.S.

Check out Miguel playing percussion on Skeebo Knight's tune "Pineapple Sandwich" recorded at Shadow Sound Studio in Macon, GA. Click here for the dial-up version. Click here for the high speed version.

Miguel is proficient on the drum set, marimba, vibes, glockenspiel, congas, tambora, bongos, djembe, atumpan, djun-djun, atabaque, doumbek, rik, zils, trash cans, timbales, miscellaneous cowbells, kalimba, water rhythms, udu, balafon, steel drums, body percussion, log drums, guiro, scrapers, metal pipes, door knobs, water jug drums, woodblocks, tabla, mridangam, clay drums, talking drums, Vietnamese bamboophone, taiko drum, miscellaneous gongs and cymbals, bombo, cajon, Native American Indian drums, Scottish pipe-drum, tonal bass drums, marching snare, quads, ethereal percussion, shakers, tambourine, flute, and piano (!)

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